AlepheneI, the Goddess of Craft

Alephenel, the Lady of All Smiths, is the goddess of craft and smithwork in the Korinthian Pantheon, whose faith is the state religion of Dragon's Reach. The church of Alephenal is tolerated across Korinth and members are found in both good- and evil-aligned human populations. She has an increasing following in rock gnome communities.

She is accepted among the gnomish pantheon as Jaspia the meddler, though a small gnomish cult believe that Jaspia is a separate deity. Though the latter is correct, Jaspia is only active in other worlds, leaving the Lady of All Smiths free to take their place in Aurum.

Worshipers
The heart of Alephenel's church is the High Holy Crafthouse of Inspiration in the city of Dragon's Reach. This monastery is run by Glittersnop the High Artificer, Most Holy Servant of Alephenel. Glittersnop is the highest-ranking mortal cleric of Alephenel; he is the supreme voice in ecclesiastical matters and he serves in Dragon's Reach ruling council, the Master's Council. The church of Alephenel consists mostly of wandering clerics who travel from settlement to settlement, finding work as artisans and engineers. Settling in one area is only encouraged in centers of innovation that warranted constant observation, such as Andros and Lyria. The church encourages wealth, as it demonstrated the benefits of following Alephenel. As they travel, clerics take samples of any inventions they discover and assist innovators they encounter, filing regular reports to their superiors.

Temples to Alephenel are imposing, boxy stone structures surrounded by porticoes. The only internal decorations are sprawling exhibits of items, some of historical interest, some representing the latest work of master crafters. The central altar consists of a massive anvil surrounded by spinning cogs in a giant machine. Backrooms consisted of workshops.

Clerics of Alephenel have a unique dress. They wear saffron robes, sashes that hold tools, and sun hats. They have great belts of large linked medallion ringlets. In north Korinth, they serve rural communities as tinkerers, carpenters, and civil engineers. All clerics of Alephenel keep a journal in which they write down ideas for inventions to be worked on and contemplated. Journals kept by wandering priests are given to temples they visited. Their notes are recorded and added to the temple library for everyone to gain insight from.

The center of Alephenite religion is the High House of Wonders in Sarapin. The cities' faithful also built a great museum, the Hall of Wonders, to display Alephenelite inventions.

The church of Loa opposes Alephenel's, believing he holds technology above magic; in truth, Alephenel views magic as a tool to further his creativity. Merchants cultivate relationships with Alephenel's clergy in the hope of profiting from trading in Alephenar inventions. Periodically, an invention of the followers of Alephenel will have an adverse economic effect, resulting in hostility from other faiths.